Grammar for TOEIC

Compiled by Aj.Yui

1. Word Families
Word families are created by adding endings to a word. These ending will change the word
into a noun, verb, adjective, or adverb.

Common Word Families

Noun
Verb Adjective Adverb
Thing Person
application applicant apply applicable
competition competitor compete competitive competitively
criticism critic criticize critical critically
decision decide decisive decisively
economy economist economize economical economically
finale finalist finalize final finally
interpretation interpreter interpret interpretive
maintenance maintainer maintain maintainable
management manager manage manageable
mechanism mechanic mechanize mechanical mechanically
nation nationalist nationalize national nationally
negotiation negotiator negotiate negotiable
politics politician politicize political politically
production producer produce productive productively
prosperity prosper prosperous prosperously
repetition repeater repeat repetitive repetitively
simplification simplify simple simply
theory theoretician theorize theoretical theoretically

2. Part of Speech
Parts of Speech are considered to be essential in analyzing the correct answer. If you
understand how a word is used in a sentence, you will be able to understand when it is used
incorrectly.
**Remember the common word endings (suffix) used to make the different part of speech:

Noun Verb Adjective Adverb

-ance -tude   -en -able   -ly
-ancy -ture   -ify -ible   -ward
-ence -ty   -ize -al   -wise
-ation -sion  -ish -ful  
-ian -ist  -ate -ive  
-ism -ion    -ous  
-ment -hood    -ant, -ent  
-ness -age    -cial  
-ship -acy    -ic  
-or -dom -ical
-er -ice -il

3. Similar Words
It is easy to confuse words that have similar meaning, similar spelling, or similar sounds.
However, these words cannot be interchanged.

Common Similar Words

accept except accede expect
advise advice advisory advisable
affect effect affection effective
borrow lend loan lease
develop expand elaborate enhance
lose loose loss lost
money cash currency coin
obtain earn win achieve
raise rise elevate ascend
say tell speak talk
travel commute go journey

4. Subject-Verb Agreement

There are rules to follow to help decide what form the subject or verb is it. The subject of a
sentence is usually a noun or pronoun.
4.1 Singular and Plural Noun Forms
 Singular noun will go with singular verb and plural noun will go with plural verb.

Example: Student goes to school every day.

Julia studies hard for the exam.
Children play in the park.

Some nouns with plural form are usually regarded as singular in meaning. Such words
include:

athletics, economics, news, politics, mathematics and statistics

Example: The news tonight has to be good.

4.2 Compound Subjects

A compound subject, two or more subjects joined by and, takes a plural verb.

Examples: Coffee and tea are served hot.

The president, the CEO and the sale manager are having a meeting.

4.3 Collective Nouns

A collective noun names a group of people or things. Examples are:

army, audience, government, family, group, team, and public

Although a collective noun looks plural, it is considered to be one unit, a whole, so it is

singular.

Examples: The group agrees that action is needed.

The public receives weather warnings on the radio and on TV.

**Exception: If we use the word “number” with collective noun, it can be singular or plural.

a  number is always plural.

the number is always singular.

Examples: A number of employees have decided to car pool.

The number of people without jobs is dropping.

4.4 Always Singular or Plural Words

4.4.1 Words that are always singular: 

anyone either someone

anything  whatever each

 no one  whoever everyone

nothing  somebody everything

neither  something everybody

 All of these words are known as indefinite pronoun. These words do not refer to a specific
person or thing.

Examples: Something is wrong here.

Neither is right.
Each employee gets 2 weeks paid vacation.

**Exception: When each follows a compound subject, the verb is plural:

The courier and the mailman each have parcels to deliver.

4.4.2 Words that are always plural: 

few  both several  many

Examples: Few people go to the annual picnic.

Several of his friends work in the accounting department.
Both of them deserve a raise.
Many of the senior staff plan to retire early.

4.5 Singular or Plural Indefinite Pronouns

Some indefinite pronouns can be singular or plural depending on what comes after them: 

a lot of some of all of most of any of none of

Examples: All of the money is kept for emergencies.

All of the reports were finished this afternoon.
None of the parcels ever arrive on Monday.
Some of the team needs more time to prepare.

4.6 Conjunctions Or and Nor

When parts of a subject are joined by or or nor, the verb agrees with the part closest to it. If
the closest part is singular, the verb is singular. If the closest part is plural, the verb is plural.

Examples: Neither the secretary nor the receptionist knows the phone number.

The engineers or the mechanics have the can of oil.
Neither the manager nor the employees was late.
Either he or they are early.

4.7 Noun of Noun

 If the subjects connect with of, the verb agrees with the first noun.

Example: A bouquet of yellow roses lends color and fragrance to the room.
The managers of BLACKPINK give the concert ticket to me.

4.8 Subject with along with, as well as, besides, not

Sometimes the subject is separated from the verb by such words. These words and phrases
are not part of the subject. Ignore them and use a singular verb when the subject is singular.

Example: The politician, along with the newsmen, is expected shortly.

Excitement, as well as nervousness, is the cause of her shaking.

4.9 Here and There

In sentences beginning with here or there, the true subject follows the verb.

Example: There are four hurdles to jump.

There is a high hurdle to jump.
Here are the keys.

4.10 Distances, Period of Time and Sums of Money

Use a singular verb with distances, periods of time, sums of money, etc., when considered
as a unit.

Example: Three miles is too far to walk.

Five years is the maximum sentence for that offense.
Ten dollars is a high price to pay.

5. Imperative Clauses
Imperative clauses most commonly function as commands, instructions or orders. We do not
usually include the subject in an imperative clause. We use the base form of the verb:
Come on. Hurry up!
Leave me alone!
Let’s go.
Put it in the microwave for two minutes.

Imperative clauses can be affirmative or negative. We make negative imperatives with

auxiliary verb do + not. The contracted form don’t is very common in speaking:

Affirmative Negative
Go! Don’t go!
Leave the door open. Don’t leave the door open.
Be happy. Don’t be sad.

6. Passive Voice
 Passive voice is used when the focus is on the action. It is not important or not known;
however, who or what is performing the action.
Example: My bike was stolen.
In the example above, the focus is on the fact that my bike was stolen. I do not know,
however, who did it.

Form of Passive Subject + Verb to be + Past Participle (V3)

When rewriting active sentences in passive voice, note the following:

 the object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence

 the finite form of the verb is changed (to be + past participle)

 the subject of the active sentence becomes the object of the passive sentence (or is
dropped)

Tense Subject Verb Object

Simple Present Active: Rita writes a letter.

Passive: A letter is written by Rita.
Simple Past Active: Rita wrote a letter.
Passive: A letter was written by Rita.
Present Perfect Active: Rita has written a letter.
Passive: A letter has been written by Rita.
Future Active: Rita will write a letter.
Passive: A letter will be written by Rita.
Auxiliary Verb Active: Rita can write a letter.
Passive: A letter can be written by Rita.

Present Progressive Active: Rita is writing a letter.

Passive: A letter is being written by Rita.
Past Progressive Active: Rita was writing a letter.
Passive: A letter was being written by Rita.
Past Perfect Active: Rita had written a letter.
Passive: A letter had been written by Rita.

7. Comparison with Adjectives and Adverbs

FORMING REGULAR COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES
Forming comparatives and superlatives is easy. The form depends on the number of syllables in the
original adjective.
ONE SYLLABLE ADJECTIVES
Add -er for the comparative and -est for the superlative. If the adjective has a consonant +
single vowel + consonant spelling, the final consonant must be doubled before adding the ending.

Adjective Comparative Superlative

tall taller tallest

fat fatter fattest

big bigger biggest

sad sadder saddest

TWO SYLLABLES

Adjectives with two syllables can form the comparative either by adding -er or by preceeding
the adjective with more. These adjectives form the superlative either by adding -est or by preceeding
the adjective with most. In many cases, both forms are used, although one usage will be more
common than the other. If you are not sure whether a two-syllable adjective can take a comparative
or superlative ending, play it safe and use more and most instead. For adjectives ending in y, change
the y to an i before adding the ending.

Adjective Comparative Superlative

happy happier happiest

simple simpler simplest

busy busier busiest

tilted more tilted most tilted

tangled more tangled most tangled

 Adjective Comparative Superlative

THREE OR MORE SYLLABLES

Adjectives with three or more syllables form the comparative by putting more in front of the
adjective, and the superlative by putting most in front.

Adjective Comparative Superlative

important more important most important

expensive more expensive most expensive

IRREGULAR COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES

These very common adjectives have completely irregular comparative and superlative forms.

Adjective Comparative Superlative

good better best

bad worse worst

little less least

much more most

far further / farther furthest / farthest

USE OF as---as
An equal comparison can be made using the positive form of an adjective or adverb with as----as.

Comparison

Her work is as accurate as his.

Comparison
 That printer operates as quietly as the computer.

8. Prepositions
Prepositions show the relationships between nouns or pronouns and other words. A
prepositional should be followed by a noun.
Common Prepositions
about as beyond inside into outside under
above at by into over until
across before down like past up
after behind during near since upon
against below except of through with
along beneath for off till within
among beside from on to without
around between in out toward

9. Conjunctions
COORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS
Coordinating conjunctions are used to join words, phrases, and clauses of equal importance
and whose functions are grammatically similar.
Coordinating Conj. Paired Coordinating Conj.
and nor so either..or Not only..but also
but for neither..nor both..and
or yet

They’re easy to remember if you can just remember FANBOYS:

For - Explains reason or purpose (just like “because”) 

I go to the park every Sunday, for I love to watch the ducks on the lake.

And - Adds one thing to another 

I go to the park every Sunday to watch the ducks on the lake and the shirtless men playing
soccer.

Nor - Used to present an alternative negative idea to an already stated negative idea 
I don’t go for the fresh air nor really for the ducks. Honestly, I just like the soccer.

But - Shows contrast 

The soccer in the park is entertaining in the winter, but it’s better in the heat of summer.

Or - Presents an alternative or a choice 

The men play on teams: shirts or skins.

Yet - Introduces a contrasting idea that follows the preceding idea logically (similar to “but”) 
I always take a book to read, yet I never seem to turn a single page.

So - Indicates effect, result or consequence 

I’ve started dating one of the soccer players, so now I have an excuse to watch the game
each week.
Parallel Structure
Parallel structure means using the same pattern of words to show that two or more ideas
have the same level of importance. This can happen at the word, phrase, or clause level. The usual
way to join parallel structures is with the use of coordinating conjunctions such as "and" or "or."
Words and Phrases
With the -ing form (gerund) of words:
Mary likes hiking, swimming, and bicycling.
With infinitive phrases:
Mary likes to hike, to swim, and to ride a bicycle.
Mary likes to hike, swim, and ride a bicycle.
(Note: You can use "to" before all the verbs in a sentence or only before the first one.)
Clauses
A parallel structure that begins with clauses must keep on with clauses. Changing to another
pattern or changing the voice of the verb (from active to passive or vice versa) will break the
parallelism.
 Example 1
The coach told the players that they should get a lot of sleep, not eat too much, and do
some warm-up exercises before the game.

Lists after a Colon

Be sure to keep all the elements in a list in the same form.
Example 1
The dictionary can be used to find these: word meanings, pronunciations, correct spellings,
and irregular verbs.

SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS
The subordinate conjunction has two jobs. First, it provides a necessary transition between
the two ideas in the sentence. This transition will indicate a time, place, or cause and effect
relationship.
Example: Louisa will wash the dirty dishes once her roommate cleans his globs.
We looked on top of the refrigerator, where Jenny often hide a bag of chocolate.
Because her teeth were chattering in fear, Lynda clenched her jaw muscle while
waiting for her turn to audition.
The second job of the subordinate conjunction is to reduce the importance of one clause so
that a reader understands which of the two ideas is more important. The more important idea
belongs in the main clause, the less important in the clause introduced by the subordinate
conjunction.
Example: As Sherri blew out the candles atop her birthday cake, she caught her hair on fire.
Sara begins to sneeze whenever she opens the window to get a breath of fresh air.
When the doorbell rang, my dog Skeeter barked loudly.

Subordinate Conjunctions
 after once until
although provided that when
as rather than whenever
because since where
before so that whereas
even if than wherever
even though that whether
if though while
in order that unless why

10. Causative Verbs

Causative verbs show that one person makes another person do something. They also show
that one person makes something happen.

have
make + Someone + do + Something
let

Example: The manager has Mr. Smith demonstrate the product.

get
want
order + Someone + to do + Something
permit
allow

Example: The manager orders Mr. Smith to demonstrate the product.

In addition, causative verbs can also show that something was done.

have
get + Something + done

Example: I will get my car washed today.

The manager gets the projector fixed before the meeting.
11. Word order: Adverbs of Frequency
Adverbs of frequency tell when or how often something happens.
Common Adverbs of Frequency
always seldom
usually hardly ever
often rarely
sometimes/ occasionally never

Adverbs of Frequency normally occur…

 after Verb to be: They are rarely late for work.
 before the main verb: We sometimes misinterpret the data.
 between the 1st auxiliary and verb: I will often have lunch at 1 o’clock.
 between the 1st and 2nd auxiliary: You should never have said that to them.

Common Adverbs of Definite Frequency

every day, daily every year, yearly
twice a week every other week
once a month from time to time
on occasion once in a while
Adverbial time words or phrases normally occur at the beginning or the end of a sentence.
I study for the TOEIC every day.
Every day I study for the TOEIC.

12. Gerund
The main verb in a sentence can be followed immediately by a second verb. This second
verb can be a gerund (-ing form) or an infinitive (to+verb pure). The main verb usually determines
which form is used.

Common Verbs Followed by a Gerund

appreciate discuss miss suggest
avoid enjoy postpone
consider finish quit
delay mind risk
 Example: I appreciate having the opportunity to speak.
They avoided looking us in the eye.

Common Verbs Followed by to-infinitive

agree fail need seem
attempt hesitate offer want
claim hope plan
decide intend prepare
demand learn refuse

Example: He agreed to complete the project.

We decided to hire her anyway.

13. Present Subjunctive

The Subjunctive is used to emphasize urgency or importance. It is used after certain
expressions.
Examples: I suggest that he study.
Don recommended that you join the committee.

command
request
S+ suggest that + Someone + do + Something
recommend

Common Verbs Followed by the Subjunctive

advise (that) propose (that)
ask (that) recommend (that)
command (that) request (that)
demand (that) suggest (that)
desire (that) urge (that)
insist (that) It is crucial / essential / important / necessary / vital (that)

14. Conditional Sentence

Conditional sentences can express two kinds of conditions: real and unreal.

Real Conditions
 Real conditions express what is possible. The if clause is in the present tense. The other
clause expresses habitual action, future action, or a command. The if clause can occur in any position
in the sentence.

Habit If it rains, I drive to work.

Future If it rains, I will drive to work.
Command If it rains, drive to work.

Unreal Conditions
Unreal conditions express something that is not true or is not possible.
Present If I owned the company, I would accept the project.
Past If I had owned the company, I would have accepted the project.

**The verb be can use both was and were in the if clause for a present unreal conditional sentence,
but were is more prefer. This is true for all persons from I to they.

Example: If I were the boss, I would take a vacation.

Conditional Usage If clause verb tense Main clause verb tense

sentence type

Zero General truths Simple present Simple present

If + S+ V1, S+V1

Type 1 A possible condition Simple present Simple future

and its probable result If + S+V1, S+will+V1

Type 2 A hypothetical Simple past Present conditional or Present

condition and its If + S+ V2, continuous conditional
probable result S+would+V1 or
S+ would+ be+Ving

Type 3 An unreal past Past perfect Perfect conditional or Past

condition and its If + S +had+V3, perfect continuous
probable result in the S+ would+have+V3 or S+
past would+ have + been+ Ving

THE ZERO CONDITIONAL

The zero conditional is used for when the time being referred to is now or always and the
situation is real and possible. The zero conditional is often used to refer to general truths. The tense
in both parts of the sentence is the simple present. In zero conditional sentences, the word "if" can
usually be replaced by the word "when" without changing the meaning.
If clause Main clause
If + S+ V1 S+V1
If this thing happens that thing happens.
If you heat ice it melts.
If it rains the grass gets wet.
TYPE 1 CONDITIONAL
The type 1 conditional is used to refer to the present or future where the situation is real.
The type 1 conditional refers to a possible condition and its probable result. In these sentences the if
clause is in the simple present, and the main clause is in the simple future.
If clause Main clause
If + S+V1 S+will+v1
If this thing happens, that thing will happen.
If you don't hurry, you will miss the train.
If it rains today, you will get wet.

TYPE 2 CONDITIONAL
The type 2 conditional is used to refer to a time that is now or any time, and a situation that
is unreal. These sentences are not based on fact. The type 2 conditional is used to refer to a
hypothetical condition and its probable result. In type 2 conditional sentences, the if clause uses the
simple past, and the main clause uses the present conditional.
If clause Main clause
If + S+ V2 S+would+v1 or S+ would+ be+Ving
If this thing happened, that thing would happen. (but I'm not sure this thing
will happen) OR that thing would be happening.
If you went to bed earlier, you would not be so tired.
If it rained, you would get wet.
If I spoke Italian, I would be working in Italy.

TYPE 3 CONDITIONAL
The type 3 conditional is used to refer to a time that is in the past, and a situation that is
contrary to reality. The facts they are based on are the opposite of what is expressed. The type 3
conditional is used to refer to an unreal past condition and its probable past result. In type 3
conditional sentences, the if clause uses the past perfect, and the main clause uses the perfect
conditional.
If clause Main clause
If + S +had+V3 S+ would+have+V3 or S+ would+ have + been+ Ving
If this thing had happened, that thing would have happened. (but neither of
those things really happened) OR that thing would
have been happening.
If you had studied harder, you would have passed the exam.
 If it had rained, you would have gotten wet.
If I had accepted that promotion, I would have been working in Milan.

15. Relative Clause

Relative clause begins with relative pronouns:
Subject Object Possessive
who whom, who whose
which which
that that

*We use who and whom for people and which for things.
*We use that for people or things.

1. We use relative pronouns to introduce relative clauses, which tell us more about people and
things.
2. We use relative clauses to post modify a noun - to make clear which person or thing we are talking
about. In these clauses we can have the relative pronoun who, which, whose or that--
as subject:
Example:
Isn’t that the woman who lives across the road from you?
The police said the accident that happened last night was unavoidable
The newspaper reported that the tiger which killed its keeper has been put down.
as object of a clause:
Example:
Have you seen those people whom we met on holiday?
You shouldn’t believe everything that you read in the newspaper.
The house that we rented in London was fully furnished.
The food was definitely the thing which I enjoyed most about our holiday.
3. We can use the possessive form, whose, in a relative clause:
Example:
That’s the woman whose name I always forget.
I met a man whose brother works in Moscow.
15. Participles
Participles are verb forms that are used like adjectives. Participles describe nouns. There are
2 kinds: (1) present participles and (2) past participles. Present participles end in –ing. Past
participles can end in –ed, -en, -d, -t, or –n.
 Use a present participle to describe a noun that creates a feeling or does an action.
That is an exciting announcement.
This is a cooking utensil.
 Use past participle to describe a noun that receives a feeling or an action.
The excited workers had heard the announcement.
The cooked pasta needed some sauce.

verb present participle past participle

bore boring bored
excite exciting excited
confuse confusing confused
annoy annoying annoyed
surprise surprising surprised
move moving moved

16. Tenses
There are 12 tenses that should be remembered:

The Simple Tenses

1.Present Simple S + V 1 (s, es)

2.Past Simple S + V2
3.Future Simple S + will, shall + V1

The Continuous (Progressive) Tenses

1.Present Continuous S + is, am, are + Ving

2.Past Continuous S + was, were + Ving
3.Future Continuous S + will, shall + be + Ving

The Perfect Tenses

1.Present Perfect S + has, have + V3

2.Past Perfect S + had + V3

3.Future Perfect S + will, shall + have + V3
The Perfect Continuous Tenses

1.Present Perfect Continuous S + has, have + been + Ving

2.Past Perfect Continuous S + had + been + Ving
3.Future Perfect Continuous S + will, shall + have been + Ving

**Paired-Tenses**

Thing that happened before Conjunction Thing that happened afterward

Past Continuous when
Past Perfect when, before, after, until, as Past Simple
Past Perfect Continuous soon as, by the time
Future Continuous when Present simple

Example: I was making dinner when she arrived.

When I got to the class, the teacher had been speaking for twenty minutes.
By the time the doctor came, the poor man had died.
They will be having their breakfast when we arrive at their house tomorrow.

17. Phrasal Verbs

ความ
Phrasal Verbs ตัวอย่าง คำเหมือน
หมาย
รวมเป็ น,
Add up to (sth.) Your purchases add up to $520. equal
เท่ากับ
If the central heating breaks down again, I will refuse malfunction, stop
Break down พัง, เสีย to pay the repair bill. running, not work

เอ่ยถึง, The meeting seemed to be going well until

Bring up mention
กล่าวถึง
Charles brought up the issue of holiday pay.

Tomorrow's match has been called off because of the

Call (sth) off ยกเลิก icy weather.
cancel

เกิดไอเดีย,
suggest, think of
Come up with เสนอแนะ He came up with a great idea for the ad campaign.
an idea

ความคิด
Count on someone พึ่งพา You shouldn't count on others for help. rely on
 ลงท้าย
After working her way around the world, she ended
End up ด้วย, up teaching English as a foreign language.
turn out to be

ลงเอย
ช้ากว่า
กำหนด
Fall behind We fell behind schedule. not on time
(กว่าที่คิด
ไว้)
ความ
Phrasal Verbs ตัวอย่าง คำเหมือน
หมาย
ทำความ
Figure out It takes most people some time to figure out new
(sth/someone) เข้าใจ, หา software.
solve, understand

คำตอบ
ออก/ลง
Get off จากรถ Make sure you take your belongings when you get off. disembark

(พาหนะ)
ขึน
้ รถ
Get on Show your boarding pass as you get on. embark
(พาหนะ)
ผ่านพ้น
The company will have to close if it can't get over the
Get over (sth) ปั ญหา, แก้ new regulations.
overcome

ปั ญหาได้
ดำเนินต่อ Please go on with what you're doing and don't let us
Go on with (sth) continue
ไป
interrupt you.

ตรวจสอบ
Go over (sth) อย่าง We're still going over the details of the contract.

ละเอียด
Hand (sth) in ส่ง, ยื่น Tom has handed in his resignation. submit
He’s never made an effort to keep up with current match, meet, be
Keep up with ตามให้ทัน events. even
 ละไว้, ไม่ You can leave the butter out of this recipe if you're on
Leave out omit, exclude
รวม
a low-fat diet.

Look for
(someone/sth) มองหา I'm looking for a red dress for a wedding. seek

ตัง้ ตารอ,
Look forward to (sth) I look forward to hearing from you. expect
คาดหวัง
We're looking into the possibility of merging the two
Look into ตรวจสอบ departments.
investigate

ตรวจดู
I had a few minutes before the meeting to look
Look over (sth) อย่าง over what he'd written.
go through

รวดเร็ว
ชดเชย I worked extra hours to make up for the time I had
Make up for (sth) compensate
สำหรับ
missed.

เลื่อนออก
Put off The meeting has been put off for a week. postpone
ไป
Run out of หมด She ran out of time and didn't finish the last question. use up, deplete

สมัคร,
She's signed up for evening classes at the community
Sign up ลงชื่อเข้า college.
register, join

ร่วม
คิด
Take (sth) into The report does not take into account the problems of take into
account พิจารณา people who do not speak English. consideration

ถึง
He took over from Tony as head of the department
Take over เข้าควบคุม last year. control, dominate

เริ่มเรียนรู้
begin, start doing
Take (sth) up ทำอะไร I’m not very good at golf – I only took it up recently.
(sth)

ใหม่ๆ
I'll have to think this job offer over before I make my
Think (sth) over พิจารณา final decision.
consider

He was turned down for the job because of insufficient

Turn down ปฏิเสธ experience.
refuse, reject